Dispenser unit comprising a flexible ring having a tubular member slidable therein



p 1956 w. B. STUKEY 2,761,597

DISPENSER UNIT COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE RING HAVING A TUBULAR MEMBER SLIDABLE THEREIN Filed 0a.. 22, 1953 INVENTOR. W 7 045 ATTORNEY United States Patent DISPENSER UNIT COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE RING HAVING A TUBULAR MEMBER SLID- ABLE THEREIN Wilfred B. Stukey, Ridgewood, N. J.

Application October 22, 1953, Serial No. 387,626

2 Claims. (Cl. 222-525) This invention relates to a dispenser, which may be manufactured and sold as a complete unit for ready application to discharged openings of containers. The unit comprises members such as illustratively shown in the attached drawing and described below including a flexible ring so designed that it may be initially compressed or force-fitted into the flanged discharge opening of a container to thereby position the device of this invention therein, whereby the contents of the container may be conveniently and efficiently discharged. The method of application of the device to the container, as below more particularly described, is a simple one; the device may be manufactured at such low cost as to make it practical to prepare it for a single use only, if so desired.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational, partly sectional, view of the upper corner of a container having a flanged discharge opening into which the dispenser of this invention is shown inserted, the tubular member of said unit being shown disposed in the retracted or non-pouring position,

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the tubular member at its position of extreme outward disposition relative to the ring,

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the dispenser unit of this invention, and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a form of arcuate tubular member which may be used in the dispenser unit of this invention.

As shown in the drawings, the dispenser unit comprises an elongated tubular member 10, and a flexible ring 11 provided with an opening 12 proportioned to slidably and snugly receive the tubular member 10. The opening 12 is preferably disposed at an angle to a line 13 perpendicular to the longitudinal axial plane of the ring, whereby the tubular member will, when moved outwardly of the ring (Fig. 2), be disposed to guide the contents of the container dispensed thereby. The container 15, adjacent wall 16 or" the container, has the flanged discharge opening 17 to which the dispenser unit 18 (Fig. 4) of this invention is to be secured. In the form of invention shown in Fig. 5, the opening 12' of flexible ring 11 is arcuate and the tubular member is of arcuate outline, whereby, as shown in Fig. 5, when the tubular member 10 is moved outwardly of the ring 11', it will be so disposed as to guide the contents of the container dispensed thereby toward the extended line of wall 14 of the container to which the dispenser unit of Fig. 5 is secured. The tubular member 11 is of substantially smaller cross-section than the flanged discharge opening 17 of the container. The flexible ring 11 may be made of rubber or similar flexible material and is preferably so proportioned as to approximately equal the outline of the opening 17, or it may be slightly greater than the said opening 17. The flexible ring may be further provided with extended portions such as 19, 19', shown in Fig. 1, which are adapted, upon inser- 2,761,597 Patented Sept. 4, 1956 tion of the ring, to be force-fitted or snapped past the free end of the flanged opening 17 to interlock therewith, to thereby secure the unit 18 to the container. Flexible ring 11 might be initially compressed about the tubular member and inserted into the flanged opening 17 or might be simply force-fitted thereinto until the extended portions 19, 19 snap past the free end of the flanged opening 17. Said cars 19, 19 may be a continuous portion or separate elements as shown, disposed on the flexible ring 11 at points apart, to thereby have interlatching engagement with the flanged opening of the container wall to secure the dispenser unit thereto, with the tubular member 10 slidably disposed in said ring 11. The tubular member may be of circular or any other desired crosssection, such as the U-shaped cross-section indicated in Fig. 3. Ring 11 may be provided with a flange 20 at the upper end to overlie and cover the flanged container opening 17. Tubular member 10 may be provided with a flanged lower end 21 (see Figs. 1 and 3) to engage the underside of ring 11 when the tubular member is moved out of the ring (Fig. 2) to preclude excessive movement of the tubular member. The lower end of the flexible ring 11 may be provided with a downwardly extending boss 23 (Fig. 4) with which the flanged lower end of member 10 may have contacting engagement when the tubular member is moved to its outermost position, as shown in Fig. 2. The tubular member may be provided with a flange 24 at the upper end thereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to engage the upper face of the ring when the tubular member is moved downwardly of the ring to preclude excessive movement of the tubular member, as shown in Fig. 1.

The invention is adapted for application to containers of various types, having flanged discharge openings 17, conventionally closed by threaded cap members. In the position of the parts shown in Fig. 1, the cap member may be secured over the dispenser unit of this invention, to close the discharge opening. In the position of the parts shown in Fig. 2, the bottom flange 21 of member 10 may be made to fit tightly against the underside of ring 11, to prevent leakage.

The entire dispenser unit may be readily removed and replaced from time to time, as desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A dispenser unit for insertion into a flanged discharge opening disposed on one wall of a container adjacent another wall thereof, comprising an elongated tubular member of substantially smaller cross-section than the discharge opening of the container, a flexible ring provided with an opening proportioned to slidably and snugly receive the tubular member, and laterally extending flanges on said ring for interlatching engagement with the flanged opening of the container wall to secure the dispenser unit to said opening, with the tubular member slidable therein.

2. In a dispenser unit as set forth in claim 1, said tubular member being of U-shaped cross-section, and the opening of the ring being of similar outline and being disposed at an angle to a line perpendicular to the longitudinal axial plane of said ring, whereby the tubular member will, when moved outwardly of the ring, be disposed to guide the contents of the container dispensed thereby at a plane angular to the wall of the container to which the dispenser unit is secured.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 483,082 Payne Sept. 20, 1892 FOREIGN PATENTS 389,650 Great Britain Mar. 23, 1933 

